If there were no Heaven or Hell would you still be a Christian?
If you are just joining me, this is the 6th of 10 answers I will be sharing in response to the above question. Today, Chrissy of Depirro Notes will be answering the question.
Here were the parameters given to those whom I asked to respond:
Answer the question:
If there were no Heaven or Hell would you still be a Christian in 350 words or less. Your answer should begin with one of the four choices below.
- I absolutely would still be a Christian....
- I think I would still be a Christian....
- I'm not so sure....
- I definitely would not still be a Christian....
Here are the answers shared thus far:
- Myself
- my husband, Sam
- Ashley of Ramblings and Photos
- Sandy of The View From Here
- Tim of Guitars and Theology
Here are the remaining 10 you can expect to hear from:
- Laura of Storybook Reality and Wild Locusts and Honey
- Katie of Katie Lloyd Photography
- Warren of Family Fountain
- Josh of Re-Everything
Chrissy wrote:
I think I would still be a Christian if there were no heaven or hell. This really is a loaded question, especially when considering the theology behind it. It's true, I suppose, Christianity would be completely different.
I like to think I would still be a Christian because when I truly search my heart, when I think back on the day I accepted Christ as my Savior, it was not heaven or eternal life that I was attracted to necessarily. It was grace. Beautiful grace. Here and now grace. God's unconditional love for me is what brought me to my knees. His daily pursuit of me. And I pray that His love is still what brings me to my knees each day. It was not hell that I was afraid of. It was feeling unworthy of any one's love, feeling filthy, feeling unwanted. I need God's love like I need the air I breathe. And once I knew this love, I needed His active hand in my life, I needed to show this same love to others, not because a treasure would be stored up for me in heaven, but because God's love had changed my life and I wanted others to know His love.
The question doesn't suggest that God's love for us would change if there were no heaven or hell. It doesn't suggest that God wouldn't still have sent His son to die for us, just maybe to give us a better life on earth, not eternally. Therefore, I like to think I would still be a Christian because God's love for me is what I long for as a Christian. Yes, I long for the day when I will see His face too. However, in pondering this question, if eternity were off the table, I would still desire God's love, God's active hand in my life, God's provision in a world that offers more evil than good. Without knowing this love, I wouldn't know how to share it with others, living a more full life here on earth.
5 comments:
Grace and living a full life - these are two great answers. I have used the "full life" explanation to people before when they questioned the value of Christianity. Most of the people I know who are live happy and fulfilled lives have a relationship with God and Jesus. Great answer.
Amber, I plugged this series on Family Fountain today, and used one of your pics.
This is a beautiful answer, and I am totally digging that photo too! ;) It isn't the idea of heaven that draws me to God either... I don't actually think about heaven much, but I think about HIM all the time :)
Another wonderful response - it is a pretty loaded question though.
I very much relate to what you said about the day you accepted Jesus as your Savior - "it was not heaven or eternal life that I was attracted to necessarily. It was grace. Beautiful grace. Here and now grace." Vipul and I have been talking about the ways in which God's truth is shared and what, as followers of Christ, our message should be. And I'm beginning to think it should be a lot more about the here and now grace that Jesus provides. Thanks for sharing - beautifully said!
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